Latest news with #UKrules
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DVLA driving licence change takes effect in August affecting thousands of drivers
A major change to UK driving licence rules has officially come into effect in August, allowing thousands of Moldovan motorists living in Great Britain to exchange their national licences for a British one without the need to retake a driving test. The update, announced earlier this year and confirmed by the DVLA, means that from August 1, 2025, eligible drivers from Moldova who become residents in England, Scotland or Wales are able to apply to swap their car driving licence for a UK equivalent through a streamlined process, reports The move follows a newly signed memorandum of understanding between the UK and the Republic of Moldova aimed at simplifying the recognition of driving qualifications between both countries. READ MORE: Motorists issued urgent DVLA alert for driving on holiday in August Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join The agreement was finalised last month by Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood and Moldovan Ambassador Ruslan Bolbocean. According to government estimates, approximately 18,000 Moldovan nationals living in Great Britain stand to benefit from the changes. Previously, Moldovan motorists would have been required to take a UK driving test in order to gain a British licence. Under the fresh rules, this will no longer be necessary, provided applicants meet standard licensing criteria and are legally residing in Great Britain. The DVLA has assessed Moldova's driver testing and licensing standards and confirmed they are equivalent to those in the UK. A spokesperson said: 'We are satisfied that car licences issued in Moldova reflect a comparable level of driver competence and road safety understanding. "No concerns have been identified that would compromise the safety of UK roads.' The changes will not apply in Northern Ireland, where driver licensing is a devolved matter handled separately by the DVA. In addition to making it easier for Moldovan nationals to drive legally in the UK, the agreement is reciprocal. Moldovan authorities will now also accept UK-issued licences, including those held by Moldovan citizens who passed their driving tests while living in the UK. The initiative is expected to improve mobility and reduce bureaucratic barriers for residents moving between the two countries, while maintaining high road safety standards.
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DVLA driving licence change takes effect in August affecting thousands of drivers
A major change to UK driving licence rules has officially come into effect in August, allowing thousands of Moldovan motorists living in Great Britain to exchange their national licences for a British one without the need to retake a driving test. The update, announced earlier this year and confirmed by the DVLA, means that from August 1, 2025, eligible drivers from Moldova who become residents in England, Scotland or Wales are able to apply to swap their car driving licence for a UK equivalent through a streamlined process, reports The move follows a newly signed memorandum of understanding between the UK and the Republic of Moldova aimed at simplifying the recognition of driving qualifications between both countries. READ MORE: Motorists issued urgent DVLA alert for driving on holiday in August Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join The agreement was finalised last month by Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood and Moldovan Ambassador Ruslan Bolbocean. According to government estimates, approximately 18,000 Moldovan nationals living in Great Britain stand to benefit from the changes. Previously, Moldovan motorists would have been required to take a UK driving test in order to gain a British licence. Under the fresh rules, this will no longer be necessary, provided applicants meet standard licensing criteria and are legally residing in Great Britain. The DVLA has assessed Moldova's driver testing and licensing standards and confirmed they are equivalent to those in the UK. A spokesperson said: 'We are satisfied that car licences issued in Moldova reflect a comparable level of driver competence and road safety understanding. "No concerns have been identified that would compromise the safety of UK roads.' The changes will not apply in Northern Ireland, where driver licensing is a devolved matter handled separately by the DVA. In addition to making it easier for Moldovan nationals to drive legally in the UK, the agreement is reciprocal. Moldovan authorities will now also accept UK-issued licences, including those held by Moldovan citizens who passed their driving tests while living in the UK. The initiative is expected to improve mobility and reduce bureaucratic barriers for residents moving between the two countries, while maintaining high road safety standards.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Garden privacy fence mistake could land you a £20,000 fine – check the latest rules
THINKING of putting up a new garden fence this summer? You might want to check the rules first or you could land yourself a hefty fine and even end up in court. 1 UK boundary rules mean your humble garden fence could turn into a legal nightmare if you get it wrong. Whether you're upgrading panels or building from scratch, the regulations are clear and local councils aren't afraid to crack down. New rules which came in last week under the The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 outline what homeowners can build without needing full planning permission. Here's what the law has to say about fences. Back garden fence For a back garden fence, you're allowed a fence up to two metres high (that's about six foot six) without needing planning permission. Go any higher, even with a decorative trellis, and you'll need to get approval first. Skip this step and you could be forced to tear it down, or even worse – face enforcement action. Front fence At the front of your property, things get stricter. Fences can't go above one metre if you live next to a footpath, road or public space. That's just over three feet tall. It's designed to help visibility for drivers and pedestrians but plenty of homeowners are caught out. Privacy Fences vs Trees: Smart Solutions for Your Garden Breaching planning rules can lead to an enforcement notice and, in some cases, fines. If your fence causes a statutory nuisance, such as flooding or blocked drains, you could face penalties of up to £5,000 or £20,000 for a business under environmental regulations. Ignore it, and things can escalate to court. Neighbour disputes are the most common property complaint in the UK and they often boil down to where the boundary actually is. Before building, measure up carefully and chat things through with your neighbour. Snapping a few photos and getting a handshake agreement could save you a legal headache down the line. Replacing a fence When it comes to replacing a fence, there's a rough rule: the left-hand side of your garden (as seen from the street) is usually your responsibility. If the 'rough' side of the fence faces you, chances are it's yours to maintain. But the only way to be certain is by checking your title deeds. If there's a letter 'T' on the boundary line, it's down to you. An 'H' means it's a shared fence, so both parties are responsible. If things still aren't clear, you and your neighbour can draw up a boundary agreement to make it official. It should include your names, addresses, and a clear description of the agreed boundary. You can even sketch it on a map. To get it formally recorded, you'll need to apply to HM Land Registry and pay a £40 fee. And don't assume the new national rules overrule everything. If you live on an estate with open-plan front gardens or in a conservation area, your property might be subject to extra rules about fence types, colours, or height limits. So be sure to ask permission before going ahead with any fence plans. You can find more information on privacy fence boundaries on the webpage. Meanwhile, to avoid disputes when decorating your fence. Elsewhere, fence professionals have explained the rules you need to know to avoid falling into neighbourly disputes. What are your rights over a fence row? IT'S very important to know your rights if you are embroiled in a fence row with a neighbour. How do I know which side I own? A boundary feature can be a fence, wall, hedge, ditch, piece of wire, or sometimes even just the edge of a driveway. The only way to know for certain who owns what side and to avoid any neighbour disputes, is to refer to the title plan or Land Registry. In this, the T mark is used to indicate who the boundary belongs to and therefore who is responsible for its upkeep, say pros at Jacksons Fencing. Larger developments tend to have some indication provided by the builder, but there are no hard and fast rules People often think they are responsible for the left (or right) hand boundary wherever they live, but there isn't any legal basis for this. You can check with HM Land Registry to see which boundary feature you are responsible for. Often households can't get hold of the paperwork but experts say they shouldn't panic. Homeowners can guess who owns the fence by checking where the rails are. Pros say: "The fence is typically facing away from their property so that their neighbour gets the 'good' side. 'This is the most secure way of facing fencing so there are no rails for anyone to use to climb into your garden. 'This is then repeated with the neighbour on the other side to ensure that each home has both a 'good' and 'bad' fence side.' Walls and fences are often built on the land of the boundary's owner with the edge of the wall marking the limit. While professionals agree a glimpse at the fence can give you a hint, it's not foolproof - so you can't be certain. Fines and punishment It is recommended to always check legal documents before making changes to avoid hefty fines. There is no law that the neighbour has to get the good side of the fence, so it's completely up to whoever owns the fence. Fencing pros have suggested: 'It may be worth selecting a double-sided panel with no 'bad' side as both sides look the same and rails are concealed within the fence panel.' If one boundary backs onto a road or footpath you can install the panels with the rails on the inside But if it's installed on the outside, it can provide an 'easy ladder for burglars to enter your garden'. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Property Litigation Association have created a mediation service to help neighbours resolve disputes over their property boundaries without resorting to court action. RICS also provides a list of surveyors who could assist in boundary disputes. If a dispute continues, it is ultimately a court that makes decisions, but they do not like such disputes being put before them. Changing a boundary If you want to change an existing boundary, such as replacing an old fence with a new one, we always recommend discussing with your neighbour first and making sure it is all agreed. The registered titles can help you to reach an agreement, but only if this information has been added. In terms of decorations on a fence legal advisers recommended asking around over who actually first installed it. But they also urged caution before getting to work on amending the fence without getting more certainty yourself - since there is a danger of actually being prosecuted for criminal damage. How high can a garden fence be? The height of the fence is measured from your ground level, this can have an impact when, due to slopes in the ground, your garden may be at a higher level than your neighbours '. A garden fence can be as high as 100m but you need to get planning permission if it's over than 2m. However, there are some complications to this. If you are thinking about front garden fences, restrictions state that fences alongside a driveway can be a maximum of 1m or 3ft. You would need to get planning permission for putting a trellis on a fence of 2m. But, if any plant that you grow on that trellis exceeds 2m, you do not need to obtain a permit for the growing plant.
